...thereof, as the blood is thorough the body ; and consisteth in the breathing, when we pronounce any sentence. For, whereas our breath is by nature so short, that we cannot continue without a stay to speak long together ; it was thought necesary as well for the speaker's ease, as for the plainer deliverance...

...sentences originally arose from the necessity of breathing frequently ; " for whereas," says he, " our breath is by nature so short that we cannot continue, without a stay, to speak long together, it was thought necessary, as well for the speaker's ease as for the plainer deliverance...

...thereof, as the blood is thorough the body ; and consisteth in the breathing, when we pronounce any sentence. For, whereas our breath is by nature so short, that we cannot continue without a stay to speak long together ; it was thought necessary as well for the speaker's ease, as for the plainer deliverance...

...signs or symbols. In a preliminary paragraph he explains the origin of these ' Distinctions ' thus : ' For, whereas our breath is by nature so short, that we cannot continue without a stay to speak long together ; it was thought necessary as well as for the speaker's ease, as for the plainer...

...par's, is fitly pointed with Semicolon." 2s Ben Jonson, The English Grammar (written before 1637) : " For, whereas our breath is by nature so short, that we cannot continue without a stay to speak long together; it was thought necessary as well for the speaker's ease, as for the plainer deliverance...

...into punctuation. Comma, colon, and period were three defined time-values, invented, as Jonson says, 'as well for the speakers ease, as for the plainer deliverance of the things spoken '. The semicolon, bringing in a finer grading of the stops, started the logical system in use at the...

...Semicolon."" . . Ben Jonaon, The English Grammar (written before 1637) : " For, whereas our breath • by nature so short, that we cannot continue without a stay to speak long together; it was thought necessary as wdl for the speaker's ease, as for the plainer deliverance...

...and "dispersed through every member thereof, as the blood is through the body" is the breathing; but "whereas our breath is by nature so short that we cannot continue without a stay to speak long together, it was thought necessary for the speaker's ease, as for the plainer deliverance...

...we cannot continue without a stay to speak long together, it was thought necessary for the speaker's ease, as for the plainer deliverance of the things spoken, to invent this means (of punctuation)." A comma he calls a mean breathing; a semicolon, a somewhat longer breath;...

...continue without a stay to speak long together; it was thought necessary as well for the speaker's ease, as for the plainer deliverance of the things spoken, to invent this means, whereby men pausing a pretty while, the whole speech might never the worse be understood." Ease...